If there are steam trains in heaven, that's where Will (Bill) Cheshire is right now. He spent many afternoons at the Harvey House Museum in Belen, NM, standing on a bottom fence rung, peeking over the top and counting train cars and engines. And if Winston Churchill is in heaven, Will probably invited him to uncork lunch together, perhaps on one of those trains.

Will was born and raised in Florida. When he was young, his family took many trips to the West which fostered in him a love of cowboys, mountains, hiking, and the great outdoors. His early love of the West led him to spend two summers working at the Young Life camps in Buena Vista, Colorado, which also fostered his love for Jesus. After graduating from the University of Florida and teaching at Pompano High, he met and married his wife, Noel (aka Nora). In 1970 a job offer with Young Life Transportation in Buena Vista allowed Will to once again become a "cowboy". The family later moved to Montana, California, and then back to his beloved Colorado for accounting opportunities in transportation, banking, and healthcare. After his retirement, Will and Noel moved to New Mexico's warmer climate.

Will was well-known for his love of steam trains, hiking, history, and geology. He won many awards for his excellent train depot and building models, as well as his scratch-built aspen and fir trees. His love of hiking, geology, and "misadventures" led him and his intrepid hiking/camping buddies to the Colorado mountain tops and the canyons of Utah. His love of history transformed him into an endless fount of Winston Churchill quotes, with which he freely regaled anyone within earshot. His love of everything western led to lifelong friendships with outdoorsmen, train and hiking buddies, as well as various geological formations.

After a life well-lived, Will died at home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in July 2025. We will all miss his dry wit, gentle spirit, and long-winded stories. He survived (and is survived by) his wife, Noel; his daughter and son and their families, two sisters and their families and many cousins, his beloved Chihuahua, 3 pounds of oatmeal, 46 protein bars, and 10 lbs of pinto beans.

All friends and family members are encouraged to share their stories, memories, and photos of Will here (*insert French obituary link*)

Donations in Will's memory are not expected, but may be made to:

Young Life-5375 Frontier Ranch Restoration or Young Life-NM21 Albuquerque NM or your local Young Life club at the address below. P.O. Box 5186 Boone, IA 50950-0186

EIN for QCD contributions: 84-0385934

Belen Harvey House Museum c/o Belen Public Library 333 Decker Ave Belen, NM 84002

EIN for QCD contributions: 82-4138021

"It is God who arms me
with strength and makes
my way perfect.
He makes my feet like
the feet of deer and sets
me securely
on high places."
Psalm 18:33